By Jones Gadama
The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has appointed Maggie Chombo as the Head Coach of the Malawi U20 Women’s National Team ahead of the 2026 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
Chombo, a former Scorchers captain, returns to the helm of the team she previously led in 2021 during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Malawi’s U20 Women’s National Team will face the Central African Republic in the first round of the qualifiers, with the first leg scheduled for May 11th, 2025, at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, and the return leg set for May 18th at the same venue.
Chombo has named a 31-member squad for the upcoming matches, and the team is expected to begin camp on April 28th, 2025, at Chiwembe Technical Centre in Blantyre.
Chombo will be assisted by a technical panel comprising experienced coaches and support staff, including John Chimwala as First Assistant Coach, Scholastica Khunga as Second Assistant Coach, Patricia Makwakwa as Fitness Trainer, Wilson Mkandawire as Goalkeepers Coach, and Lina Mtegha as Team Manager. Martha Chimwala and Salome Chirwa are in the technical panel as Physiotherapist and Team Doctor, respectively.
The 31-member squad features talented young players from various clubs in Malawi. Notable faces in the squad include Ascent Academy duo of Maureen Kenneth and Leticia Chinyamula, who also plays for the senior team. Other notable players include goalkeepers Ireen Sibande, Emily Nkhwazi, and Evelyn Kamanga; defenders Talandira Chinyamula, Olivia Phikani, and Alinafe Milanzie; midfielders Linda Manda, Chikondi Mgodi, and Anna Baziliyo; and strikers Mary Chindeya, Kondawu Banda, and Mayamiko Mkandawire.
With Chombo at the helm, Malawi’s U20 Women’s National Team is poised to make a strong impression in the 2026 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
The team’s campaign will be closely watched, given the country’s growing reputation in women’s football. Chombo’s experience as a player and coach will undoubtedly be an asset to the team.
The road ahead will be challenging, but with a solid team and technical panel in place, Malawi’s U20 Women’s National Team is ready to take on the Central African Republic and make their mark in the qualifiers.
